Summer Safety: Beat the heat

Children are at greater risk than adults of suffering dehydration and heat illness in the hot, humid summer months. Parents must take elementary precautions to keep children safe and cool during summer – Dr. Gita Mathai Summer holidays are eagerly anticipated by children who look forward to a well-deserved break from school and a chance to play games and sports outdoors. But summer also brings with it sweltering heat and high humidity, causing heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat strokes. Inevitably children are at greater risk than adults of suffering dehydration and heat illness. With summer temperatures in India averaging 37-43° C and periodic heat waves having caused 557 deaths across the country in 2016, it’s vital that parents understand the dangers of dehydration and heat ailments and counsel children to be cool and safe during the hot summer months.  Children and the elderly are most vulnerable to heat-induced ailments because sweat mechanisms are poorly developed in children under the age of four years and function inefficiently in those above 65.  Body ‘overheating’ cause and effect The human body maintains a temperature of 98.6° F to enable smooth functioning of internal organs. If it is hot outside, or if children engage in physical activity, the body temperature begins to rise. As warm blood reaches the brain, it sends signals to blood vessels in the skin causing them to dilate and the body “over-heats”. Heat is further exacerbated if clothes worn are tight, dark and made of synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester. On the other hand, light coloured clothing made of natural fibres such as cotton helps absorb heat better and allows sweat to evaporate. When the body overheats, clear beads of sweat form on the skin, coating it in a fine film. As sweat evaporates, the body cools down. But this natural mechanism of fighting heat breaks down if the climate is both hot and sultry. Humidity prevents sweat from evaporating. Adequate fluids must be ingested for sweat to form.  If the body is not adequately cooled, excessive heat causes painful cramps, usually in the legs. If ignored, this can progress to heat illness or exhaustion resulting in dizziness, palpitations, rapid breathing and fainting. If the body temperature rises to 104° F or higher, a heat stroke can occur, which could prove fatal. The skin becomes hot and dry, sweating mechanisms cease to function and the high temperature affects the brain, prompting seizures.  Therefore, it’s vitally important that the human body is optimally hydrated to replenish the fluids lost in sweat. Sweat contains electrolytes, which are essential for important chemical reactions in the body. During dehydration, electrolytes are lost and must be replenished through rehydration. Neglect can result in hyponatremia (low sodium) or “water intoxication,” which can cause headaches, fatigue, muscle cramps, stomach ailments, and in extreme cases, brain swelling and even death.  Rehydration  The best way to rehydrate the human body is to combine water with a light meal. I also recommend lightly salted buttermilk, lime juice, tender coconut…